The New MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Certification

There are a total of 5 Azure specific certification exams available from Microsoft currently. If you pass each of these individually you will earn a Microsoft Specialist certification for the topic/skills area the exam covers. Also, until this week if you took the 3 Azure Solutions exams you would earn the MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect. Well, the MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect certification is being retired, and instead replaced with an entirely new redesigned and restructured set of 5 MCSD and MCSE certifications. There are many changes afoot in the Microsoft Certification realm, so if you were targeting to obtain the MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect certification you might be wondering, “What do I do now?” What ever you decide, don’t stop studying! See it through because the exams are still here, along with a clear path to proving those hard earned skills!

On the path to earning the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification an MCSA certification will first be earned.

The MCSA Foundation

On the path to earning the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification an MCSA certification will first be earned. It’s really good to have a milestone along the way, instead of having to pass a ton of exams before claiming any single certification title / credential. Additionally, instead of just a single MCSA to earn first before the MCSE, there are 4 tracks to choose from based on your unique combination of expertise and interests.

Here’s the list of the 4 MCSA certifications and the exams you need to pass to achieve them:

As you can see the MCSA Foundations for the new MCSE, while they require you to pass either 2 or 3 exams depending on the track, offer a pretty wide range of expertise paths to follow! Anywhere from Azure/Cloud only, to Windows Server 2016 or 2012, to the MCSA: Linux on Azure that is a mixture of Azure and Linux!

The New MCSE

Once an qualifying MCSA certification (as listed above) is earned, the next path is to pass only 1 more exam to earn the full MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification! And, the best part, is you get to choose from a fairly long list of exams to make that happen.

Here’s the current list of Elective exam options to grow that MCSA certification into a brand new MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification:

Even if you chose to focus on Windows Server 2012 or 2016 with the MCSA you earned, it’s very likely you will be mixing in some Azure / Cloud expertise and learning with the elective exam you choose to take for upgrading to the MCSE. Unless of course you go with the “Securing Windows Server 2016”, but that exam isn’t available yet so we don’t fully know what Azure / Cloud stuff might be on it; I’m guessing there’ll at least be a bunch of Private Cloud stuff given the direction that Microsoft is taking even on-premises Windows Server.

Once an qualifying MCSA certification (as listed above) is earned, the next path is to pass only 1 more exam to earn the full MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification!

From MCSD to MCSE

If you followed along the paths above for MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, you may have notices the 5 Azure specific exams, in particular the Developer 70-532, Infrastructure 70-533, and Architect 70-534 exams, and how if you pass all three you will now earn the new MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification instead of the old MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect certification that will soon be retired.

The new MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure path replacement for the old MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect with the exact same exams looks as follows:

Start by earning the MCSA: Cloud Platform certification by taking and passing any 2 of the following exams:

Then round out the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification by taking and passing the 1 remaining exam of the 3.

Basically, take all three of these exams and you’ll now earn the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification, instead of the (soon retired) MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect. The new certification title for the same exams is a little more ambiguous as it doesn’t specifically have “Azure” in the name. Also, there are many Developers who won’t be as interested in the new certification since it’s now an MCSE and not an MCSD anymore.

Lastly, for those disappointed in retiring the “Architect” certification, it is important to remember the “E” in “MCSE” stands for “Expert”. The gives the new certification the full title of:

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Posted by Chris Pietschmann

Chris is a 6-time Microsoft MVP and has nearly 20 years of experience building enterprise systems both in the cloud and on-premises. He is also a Certified Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (both MCSD and MCSE), a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and self proclaimed Cloud Advocate. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.

[…] requirements for the MCSA: Cloud Platform certification are setup similarly to the new MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification that it’s a foundational path for. You pick the specific exams that fit your […]

You should as long as the exams you passed are all still active (not retired) and the latest exam you passed was after Jan 1, 2016. If you do qualify, you’ll see your MCP transcript updated automatically if you go login and look.

[…] exams into the various certification tracks. Along with these announcements was the release of the brand new Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certificati…,and a few Microsoft Certified Solution Associates (MCSA) certifications it builds on top […]

Good Afternoon,I have taken server 2012 MCSA certification. But wanting to take 70-413 and 70-414 to get my MCSE in server – Infrastructure But due to the introduction of the NEW certification(that is MCSE cloud and Infrastructure)…Can i do 70-534..That cloud Architecture , So have to have the experience of Clouding… Since,its now combined or what is your advised….thanks…

I would recommend taking the exams that count towards MCSE that you think would be easier to study for and pass. Then you could study 70-534 for your renewal elective next year. Or, if you think 70-534 would be even difficulty, then do that one now.

Certificate expiry in an years time is highly disappointed. Microsoft’s business model for renewing certificate each year by investing money (time of learning is still ok) is a profit making thought instead of knowledge assessment.

So just for clarification. I have my MCSA 2016 through passing one of the 2016 server exams. If I pass 70-533 before end of March; that gives me a MCSE cloud and infrastructure? Do I need to take 70-532 or 70-534 for any other reasons or additional certification titles?

Yes, if you all 3 (70-532, 70-533, and 70-534) then you will earn the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification. You will also have passed certification exams that cover and test your skills in Development, Infrastructure, and Architecture roles.

Yes, having the MCSA Windows Server 2016 you could pass the 70-533 Implementing Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam would earn you the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification. In this case there wouldn’t be much benefit to additionally passing 70-532 or 70-534 since you will already have earned the MCSE.

Hi I have completed my MCSA Server 2012 on the 24th of August 2017, Next week, the 21st of Sep 2017 I am writing exam 70-246. would I be able to receive my MCSE after passing the exam? or I have to write 70-247 exam

Hello Chris, I am sadiq. I would like to be MCSE Cloud platform. But I am in a dilemma where to start. I am yet to start with MCSA. Please advice which exams would help me. Would 410, 411, 412, 413,414 exams would help me to be MCSE in cloud platform? Your response will be much appreciated. Thanks.

You’ll need to start with earning an MCSA certification that counts towards the MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure. I would look at the available MCSA’s and choose the one that is most relevant to you. There are a couple different MCSA’s to choose from.

I am a 2012r2 MCSA/MCSE/MCT. I took the the 70-980 upgrade exam and passed which gave me the Cloud and Infrastructure certification. I took the 2016 70-743 Upgrade exam. The 2012r2 includes 413 and 414 and the upgrade exam includes the 413 and 414 objectives.

I notice that 413 and 414 are on the list for 2016 MCSE. Am I required to take these again?